Mr. Hurd received a rich severance package from HP -- $28 million, $35 million, and $40 million to $50 million -- depending on whose numbers you believe. And he needed that money because he was quickly sued by HP after accepting a position at close-friend Larry Ellison's company, Oracle Corp.

Now Mr. Hurd has settled that lawsuit, agreeing to give up 345,000 restricted HP shares, valued at an estimated $13.6M USD, which were part of his severance package. That could cut the severance package by as much as half, but it clears his way to work at Oracle without legal clouds floating overhead.

For HP, which was threatened by Oracle Corp. the settlement is somewhat good news as well. Oracle had threatened to terminate its business relationship with HP if the company continued to fight Mr. Hurd's employment. Such a move could potentially have cost HP hundreds of millions in business.

Mr. Hurd now settles into a posh new position at the world's third largest software company (behind only Microsoft -- number one -- and IBM -- number two). He will received $950,000 USD a year in direct compensation and will receive a performance-based bonus of up to $10M USD in additional compensation. Oracle is targeting a bonus of $5M USD as the expected figure, but if sales go well, Mr. Hurd may walk away with much more.

The new Oracle Co-President is regarded as a brilliant and exacting businessman. But he also knows how to have fun. He was president of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity at Baylor University. He recalls his frat days commenting, "[Those were] some of the best and most important [days] of my life."

According to Fortune, Mr. Hurd in his college days was known for delighting "in telling raucous, naughty, dishy yarns." Among close acquaintances he also reportedly is apt to "quote long passages from favorite movies. Animal House and Gladiator rank high."

From the frat-house to the house of Ellison, it's been a strange journey for Mr. Hurd, but he's landed remarkably well compared to some other high-profile sex scandal participants, such as Mark Phillips, the Oracle Co-President he's replacing.

"Intel is investing heavily (think gazillions of dollars and bazillions of engineering man hours) in resources to create an Intel host controllers spec in order to speed time to market of the USB 3.0 technology." -- Intel blogger Nick Knupffer